OUR SEA POWER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1951, 7 January 1914, Page 5

OUR SEA POWER.

BRITAIN'S NAVAL STRATEGY! 1

REVIEWED.

BY REAR ADMIRAL MAHAtt

ESSENTIAL PREDOMINANCE IN^THE

MEDITERRANEAN.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright; London, January ■ a.--"* Rear-Admiral A. T. Jlalian (U:S : A.);i the authority on naval strategy, writing in the "Daily Mail," contends.that tho Navy can abandon the Mediterranean without disaster to tho Empire, hut can hardly hold the Mediterranean without; disaster to Great Britain." The , mere; security of Britain is considered to have; been so imperilled that a majority of tho battleships had been concentrated, around Great Britain. Subordinate' thereto, but directly related thereto, has; been tho withdrawal of tho Mediterranean fleet from Malta to Gibraltar,' [:■%?■ Admiral Mahan points out that ■■'the. Canadian and Australian communities' hold tenaciously to certain views / for unifying in a common purpose the British Pacific Commonwealths, thus constituting a great Imperial interest, dependent in possible contingencies upsn naval preponderance in the Mediterran-

ilc asks: "How, in tta eient of 'a, general war arisina out of the present critical situation on tho Levant;;"ban tho British Navy sccuro Egypt- and Suez?" ' , ','■' Admiral Mahan argues that whether France—alone or with Great Britain's support—can maintain tho control of trade security and military effectiveness throughout the Mediterranean is a point for consideration. It would not. suffice to secure the Western half. Ho concludes: "The Empire needs the whole, sea for the Imperial movement of commerce and for Imperial naval effectiveness, which are essential for tho.,Empire's existence." .. 'W^"

THE ARMAMENTS AGITATION.V; CARRIED TO Till I ', PUBLIC platform. ;•... (Rcc. January 6, 0.0 a.m.) '~"'. London, January 6.'.-. Both sides to the armament controversy arc initiating a platform campaign throughout the United Kingdom. The Commit too for the Reduction of Armaments is organising meetings,, whilethe Navy League is similarly engaged. ■ ' .'■.■'■ Influential city men are arranging a meeting in favour of a strong Navy, while a number of Liberals are ■planning a campaign in favour of reduction.. Tlio "Daily News" states that the Liberal Party dues not demand that Britain's sea supremacy should he diminished, but that there should ho no additional expenditure. It makes its stand on Mr.'Churchill's CO per centum formula over Germany.

GERMAN JOURNAL'S PLEA FOR REDUCTION. - (Rec. January 6, 0.10 a.m.) . Devlin, January G. The "Frankfurter Gazette" congratulates Mr. Lloyd-George, on declaring his war on tho destructive race for supremacy in armaments, the reaction against which has already become discernible in civilised countries, although the leaders of tho people, deny it. "But should England hold herself strong," says ilio'jbuiiinl, "the English people will make the nations call a. halt, and give a new and victorious impetus-to this great movement."